Tag Archives: Overtime Class Action

The Central Valley Business Times is reporting that Lowe’s has settled an overtime class action accusing the home improvement retailer of forcing thousands of employees to work “off the clock.”

“Home improvement retailer Lowe’s Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) has agreed to pay $29.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit that argued it had required “thousands” of hourly workers to toil “off the clock.”

Two former Lowe’s employees alleged that they and thousands of other hourly Lowe’s workers were required to work before and after their normal shifts but were not paid for the extra work…

Earlier, Lowe’s denied all of the claims raised in the lawsuit. The company, contacted Wednesday for comment, said it could not comment directly on the settlement but a spokeswoman said the company believes it is in compliance with all laws and regulations.

The settlement was approved Tuesday by the Los Angeles Superior Court, shortly before the case was to finally go to trial.”

The National Law Journal is reporting that a federal judge in Los Angeles has approved a $39 million preliminary settlement to resolve the multidistrict litigation between Wachovia Corp. and more than 10,000 stock brokers who alleged that they were denied overtime pay and other wages.

“U.S. District Judge David O. Carter also approved a final settlement in which Prudential Financial Inc., whose retail brokerage division was sold to Wachovia in 2003, agreed to pay $11 million to former stock brokers.

The stock brokers, referred to as financial advisers or financial adviser trainees, alleged that they were misclassified as exempt from overtime under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) and state wage and hour laws.

They also claimed that they were not reimbursed for business expenses and did not receive timely paychecks upon leaving the company.

California stock brokers alleged that they were not given breaks for meals and rest periods as required by state law.

In its motion for preliminary approval, Wachovia, recently acquired by Wells Fargo & Co. Inc., said that the recent change in its corporate ownership would result in changes in policy and practices that could complicate the litigation.”

The article said that those affected by the settlement are financial advisers and trainees who worked for Wachovia Corp., Wachovia Securities LLC or First Union Securities Inc. “Most of the class members must make FLSA claims, but subclasses in the settlement are identified for workers with state claims in California, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Ohio.”

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Casey’s General Stores Inc. has agreed to pay $11.7 million to settle two class-action wage lawsuits and said it will record a $9.1 million charge in its fiscal fourth-quarter as a result of the settlement.

The convenience-store chain was sued by plaintiffs representing about 7,800 current and former assistant managers and about 76,000 current and former non-management-level employees over allegations they weren’t paid overtime.

Initially, Casey’s General Stores managers had filed a suit against the company, with cooks and cashiers suing for overtime pay in early 2008. Those employees also claimed they were denied mandatory meal and rest breaks and said they were asked to perform tasks before and after their shifts.

Under the settlement agreement, the company will also pay up to $400,000 in related settlement expenses. The company’s directors and officers insurance company will pay $3 million of the settlement on behalf of the defendants.

A federal judge has granted conditional certification to a nationwide class of “Field Managers” in an overtime wage suit against Centex Homes Inc. that could include as many as 3,500 opt-in plaintiffs. Centex “Field Managers” can find out more about the case by contacting class attorneys Morgan & Morgan at 1-866-344-9243.